JACKSON, Mich. – Baker College of Jackson has reported a 100 percent pass rate for its students who completed the rigorous Fire Academy certification program this year. The students, who were concurrently enrolled in Baker‘s associate degree fire science program, also passed the State of Michigan exams to become certified fire fighters.

The students are Jacob Ellis, of Spring Arbor, Erin Bigelow, of Jerome, and Conner Erhardt and Corey Slone, of Jackson. Bigelow is an on-call firefighter for the Moscow Township Fire Department.

"We congratulate these students for taking a major step forward in their careers," said Patricia A. Kaufman, Ed.D., Baker College of Jackson president. “We also commend them for seeking additional education in the fire science field at Baker College that will benefit them in today's highly competitive job market and provide the credentials often necessary for leadership opportunities.”

To pass the 20-week Fire Academy, participants must successfully complete written and practical exams for four certifications—medical first responder, driving, hazmat operations and fire fighter I and II. This qualifies them to take the written and practical exams to become certified fire fighters with the State of Michigan.

The Baker College of Jackson fire science program was launched in 2012. In its first two years, Baker College students who enrolled in the Fire Academy have passed 36 of 38 certification exams, resulting in a 95 percent certification pass rate.

The associate and bachelor’s degree options within the Baker College fire science program offer educational background for employment and credentials for advancement in the fire science area.

The associate program provides instruction in fire prevention methods, fire behavior, fire protection systems, principles of emergency services and a broad range of criminal justice theories and practices. It is compliant with the Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education (FESHE) standards established by the National Fire Academy.

Baker’s bachelor’s fire science program prepares students for leadership positions within the fire fighting and/or public safety industry, and includes issues associated with fire safety, fire prevention, and principles of emergency services, as well as topics related to the criminal justice field.

The Fire Academy is sanctioned by the Michigan Fire Fighters Training Council (MFFTC), the firefighter certification agency for the State of Michigan, and, in Jackson County, is spearheaded by the Jackson County Fire Chiefs Association.

For more information about Baker College of Jackson’s fire science associate and bachelor’s degree programs, contact Kevin Pnacek at kevin.pnacek@baker.edu or the admissions office at 517.788.7800.

As a graduate of Baker College, you are eligible for our Lifetime Employment Services, which include:

Job searching techniques

Resume and cover letter assistance

Job interview questions

Job postings

Relocation tips

Is Baker College Online accredited?

Baker Online is part of Baker College, a private, non-profit, accredited, degree granting, higher educational institution with locations throughout Michigan.

As an accredited college, Baker College has been granted legal authority by the state of Michigan to operate as a nonprofit educational corporation and is empowered to grant certificates, associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees. It is approved for veterans’ benefits. Baker College is recognized as an institution of higher education by the U.S. Secretary of Education, U.S. Department of Education.

After you enroll, and are accepted to your online program, you sign-up, or "register" for your first courses. Like all Baker Online students, you will begin your online experience with a three-week online class designed to orient you to the Baker Online classroom, and review the expectations and requirements of Baker Online students. When you have completed this course successfully, you can move on to additional online courses.

JACKSON, Mich. – Baker College of Jackson has reported a 100 percent pass rate for its students who completed the rigorous Fire Academy certification program this year. The students, who were concurrently enrolled in Baker‘s associate degree fire science program, also passed the State of Michigan exams to become certified fire fighters.

The students are Jacob Ellis, of Spring Arbor, Erin Bigelow, of Jerome, and Conner Erhardt and Corey Slone, of Jackson. Bigelow is an on-call firefighter for the Moscow Township Fire Department.

"We congratulate these students for taking a major step forward in their careers," said Patricia A. Kaufman, Ed.D., Baker College of Jackson president. “We also commend them for seeking additional education in the fire science field at Baker College that will benefit them in today's highly competitive job market and provide the credentials often necessary for leadership opportunities.”

To pass the 20-week Fire Academy, participants must successfully complete written and practical exams for four certifications—medical first responder, driving, hazmat operations and fire fighter I and II. This qualifies them to take the written and practical exams to become certified fire fighters with the State of Michigan.

The Baker College of Jackson fire science program was launched in 2012. In its first two years, Baker College students who enrolled in the Fire Academy have passed 36 of 38 certification exams, resulting in a 95 percent certification pass rate.

The associate and bachelor’s degree options within the Baker College fire science program offer educational background for employment and credentials for advancement in the fire science area.

The associate program provides instruction in fire prevention methods, fire behavior, fire protection systems, principles of emergency services and a broad range of criminal justice theories and practices. It is compliant with the Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education (FESHE) standards established by the National Fire Academy.

Baker’s bachelor’s fire science program prepares students for leadership positions within the fire fighting and/or public safety industry, and includes issues associated with fire safety, fire prevention, and principles of emergency services, as well as topics related to the criminal justice field.

The Fire Academy is sanctioned by the Michigan Fire Fighters Training Council (MFFTC), the firefighter certification agency for the State of Michigan, and, in Jackson County, is spearheaded by the Jackson County Fire Chiefs Association.

For more information about Baker College of Jackson’s fire science associate and bachelor’s degree programs, contact Kevin Pnacek at kevin.pnacek@baker.edu or the admissions office at 517.788.7800.

As a graduate of Baker College, you are eligible for our Lifetime Employment Services, which include:

Job searching techniques

Resume and cover letter assistance

Job interview questions

Job postings

Relocation tips

Is Baker College Online accredited?

Baker Online is part of Baker College, a private, non-profit, accredited, degree granting, higher educational institution with locations throughout Michigan.

As an accredited college, Baker College has been granted legal authority by the state of Michigan to operate as a nonprofit educational corporation and is empowered to grant certificates, associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees. It is approved for veterans’ benefits. Baker College is recognized as an institution of higher education by the U.S. Secretary of Education, U.S. Department of Education.

After you enroll, and are accepted to your online program, you sign-up, or "register" for your first courses. Like all Baker Online students, you will begin your online experience with a three-week online class designed to orient you to the Baker Online classroom, and review the expectations and requirements of Baker Online students. When you have completed this course successfully, you can move on to additional online courses.